My biggest challenge yet. 2000 red Camaro SS (Long post.. lots of pics)

[Avengeance]

This car was in some realllllly bad shape. Its a friend of mines car and I told him Id do this for him last year. Back then I was more of a rookie with machine work and at the time I impressed him with a sample by hand after washing his car at my house, we were in a local parade the next day. At that point I had only machine detailed a couple cars and really didnt have a solid grasp on what kind of work it would take to fix his car. So.... last Sunday we finally both had a day to do this and I went to work. I was intimidated but I gave it all I could with only using a PC.

Here is the sample I did for him BY HAND months and months ago.....

http://images17.fotki.com/v304/photos/3/37057/3542468/IMG_4954-vi.jpg

http://images16.fotki.com/v303/photos/3/37057/3542468/IMG_4952-vi.jpg

Not perfection... but looking at what I had to work with the 5 minute Megs ScratchX x 2 + 1 coat of Megs cleaner wax by hand did work pretty well.

Heres some befores from last Sunday. The car had HEAVY pitting... I couldnt touch the pitting with the PC. :(
http://images19.fotki.com/v27/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6589-vi.jpg

http://images19.fotki.com/v354/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6591-vi.jpg

Im not familiar with sanding marks but does this look like someone tried to color sand the car and wasnt successful? There was a lot of this all over the car... along with deep scratches everywhere.
http://images20.fotki.com/v356/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6603-vi.jpg

Heres some comparisons...
http://images19.fotki.com/v359/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6601-vi.jpg

You can see the block where I taped off in this pic..
http://images19.fotki.com/v358/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6598-vi.jpg

This was about as good as I could get it with a 2 step polish... #83 with the Megs burgundy cutting pad and then #80 with the yellow Megs polish pad.
http://images19.fotki.com/v359/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6596-vi.jpg

[Avengeance]

Heres where the detail started to suck... I decided on 2 steps... Megs cutting pad and #83 then a pass on the whole car with Megs polish pad and #80. However... my friend decided he didnt want to stay late so told me not to worry about the polish pad and #80. :furious: While my back wasnt complaining I didnt like leaving the car micromarred.. but I had no choice. So since he lives an hour from me hes going to let me rotary the car after winter passes. I had no choice but to settle with that... even though the car looked 100xs better then when I started.

Process...
-Gold Class Wash
-Sonus block grey clay and Last touch lube
-Megs burgandy cutting pad and #83
-Megs finishing pad and #21
-Megs #38 for tires and trim
-Flitz for exhaust tips and wheels
-Stoners for glass

Heres some afters... sorry for the crappy lighting. I was dark when I finished. To top it off on my last picture my batteries died.. which from past experiences means my previos couple dozen pics turn out with crappy quality. The black on the hood is a matte black vinyl, not paint... not supposed to be shiney.
http://images19.fotki.com/v354/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6605-vi.jpg

http://images19.fotki.com/v27/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6606-vi.jpg

http://images19.fotki.com/v358/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6610-vi.jpg

http://images20.fotki.com/v355/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6611-vi.jpg

http://images19.fotki.com/v354/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6614-vi.jpg

http://images19.fotki.com/v358/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6615-vi.jpg

http://images20.fotki.com/v356/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6618-vi.jpg

http://images19.fotki.com/v359/photos/3/37057/4244807/IMG_6620-vi.jpg


Heres the ULTIMATE gratification....

My friend went to the local 7-11 to get cash to pay for the detail after I was done. Not more the 5 MINUTES after I finished the car he got THREE compliments while just at 7-11!!!!!!!!! Both of us were happy! :awesome:

[abrcrombe]

VERY sweet car and a very nice job too. Looks like you got most of the swirls out and I am sure he was very impressed.

[joe.p]

hard work but the end results are always worth the effort..looks nice..

[sparkie]

Great work, I love it when people make comments about the cars I detail.
Sanding marks pic, looks like wet sanding gone bad.

[Frugle]

I hate driving a normal car, (03 camry) people never make comments about it looking good (unless they have an eye for depth and reflection, but then they are just looking at the paint and not the car)

looks great though!

[Avengeance]

Thanks guys.. I cant wait to use a rotary on this car. I think Ill be able to improve upon what I accomplished on sunday with a rotary.

[supercharged]

Great job! I love SS!

[sparkie]

Thanks guys.. I cant wait to use a rotary on this car. I think Ill be able to improve upon what I accomplished on sunday with a rotary.
Avengeance, keep us updated! Let us know what kind of rotary and kind of pads you are using. And how you like it. I'm getting a rotary for Christmas.

[FloridaNative]

Man, I hate it when people want to leave before the job is done. I get that when I detail for my family, they want their beaters to look brand new but they don't want to invest the time for the work to be done properly. that always drives me nuts! lol You really did a bang up job on that camaro and I can't wait to see the pics when she's totally finished! :applause: What kind of rotary are you going to buy?

[wytstang]

Sweet SS looks great and I love the color, you did a great jog bringing it back.

[ryandamartini]

very nice work.

YGPM

[Avengeance]

Thanks everyone!


Man, I hate it when people want to leave before the job is done. I get that when I detail for my family, they want their beaters to look brand new but they don't want to invest the time for the work to be done properly. that always drives me nuts! lol You really did a bang up job on that camaro and I can't wait to see the pics when she's totally finished! :applause: What kind of rotary are you going to buy?

Yeah I was bummed out but he was still happy so I guess thats what counts. :)

I already have a Hitachi SP18VA... Ive had it for a couple weeks but havent had time to practice on my beater. Maybe this weekend. Im the MAN

[XterraOverload]

Comments are the best.......... You just cant do better and a new detail and people complementing you .............Outstanding!!

[FloridaNative]

Thanks everyone!



Yeah I was bummed out but he was still happy so I guess thats what counts. :)

I already have a Hitachi SP18VA... Ive had it for a couple weeks but havent had time to practice on my beater. Maybe this weekend. Im the MAN

Cool! Enjoy your Hitachi. Keep your rpm's low and don't stay in the same place for too long and I'm sure you'll be fine. :)